Emir BardakçıThe world of mobile phone photography is set to experience a paradigm shift, and all this is thanks to a technology which I am certain none of you has ever come across before—LOFIC. Although the Xiaomi 17 Ultra caused a stir in the market as the first one to incorporate this high dynamic range technology into its periscope camera, it appears Xiaomi’s monopoly on this technology may come to an end. We are now seeing trustworthy leaks from inside the industry, like Digital Chat Station, that the forthcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro (the SM8975 Gen 6 Pro, to be specific) will make LOFIC a mandatory requirement for the next generation of flagships. This marks the end of the era for “blown out” skies and missing shadow detail in mobile photography.
TL;DR
- LOFIC Technology: A next-generation sensor technology that prevents overexposure in high-contrast shots.
- Wider Adoption: All flagships with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro (SM8975) are anticipated to support this technology.
- 200MP Supremacy: The upcoming chip will probably be accompanied by a group of 200MP sensors for unparalleled detail.
- The Xiaomi Lead: Even as the Xiaomi 17 Ultra was the first to market, other players such as Samsung and Sony are hot on its heels.
What is LOFIC and Why Does it Matter?
I have been using the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (launched in China at CNY 6,999 or approximately $995), and the LOFIC (Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor) feature is a total game-changer. It basically lets the camera “overflow” the extra light into a capacitor so that pixels do not saturate and turn pure white. This leads to a dynamic range that emulates what top of the line DSLRs have to offer. We are talking about a jump to 16.5EV, which is unprecedented on any mobile phone. If these leaks are to be believed, then the Snapdragon 8 Elite will be taking this level of professional photography to the masses by late 2026.
Will Next Phones Have This Technology?
According to the most recent reports available on Weibo, it appears that the SM8975 (Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro) chipset has been developed with the express purpose of dealing with the enormous data output that 200MP camera sensors and LOFIC technology provide.
What’s Next for Flagship Photography?
The response from the enthusiast crowd, as reflected in the reactions of the community on the Reddit and Twitter forums, is clear: it is the HDR and not the megapixels that matter. With the integration of LOFIC at the chipset level and the implementation of Xiaomi HyperConnect and the new Xiaomi HyperOS, the future smartphones will be a generation ahead. The first smartphones that are not from Xiaomi, but incorporate this technology, are expected to appear in the third quarter of 2026. It’s kind of bittersweet for Xiaomi enthusiasts, since the exclusivity that Xiaomi has with its “Ultra” series is ending, but the whole Android world gets to benefit.
